Smart Business Magazine, June 2017

84 Smart Business Cleveland June 2017 2017 Northeast Ohio Smart 50 Sponsor Notes www vistage com Based upon working with many leaders over a long period of years we believe that the top three traits that embody the definition of smart leaders are 1 Strategic thinking the ability to develop and articulate a clear vision for their product or service which becomes their vehicle to inspire others to achieve a meaningful purpose Great strategists inherently understand that the best strategy touches people at an emotional level ensuring that everyone willingly performs at maximum potential Secondly they realize that strategies need to be adaptable and are continually monitoring their environment to make any needed adjustments They are lifelong learners 2 The ability to attract develop challenge mentor and retain top talent Smart leaders attract the right people by being the right model They model the traits they wish to see in their associates High on integrity they are models of trust competency communication and collaboration As a result they attract people with the same core values that lead to a great alignment as these companies move forward to achieve their goals They realize that the Jim Collins rule to get the right people on the bus the right people in the right seats and the wrong people off the bus is a must 3 The ability to execute Smart leaders excel at putting in place cultures of autonomy and accountability They develop high performance teams that focus on results An essential attribute of this skill is that they develop and implement an effective communication system that ensures that the vision strategy strategic execution plan and purpose are communicated to all employees so that each person understands the goal and their role in achieving it The Northeast Ohio Vistage participating chairs Charlie Bayer Jim Mazzella Jim Jelinek Brad Roller Christy Lyras Jeff Semple Cheryl McMillan After four generations of successful leadership at Hylant we have found the term transformational leadership best defines the traits of our organization Transforming an organization through multiple generations means the organization and its leaders must possess a multitude of traits The top three traits Hylants leadership embodies are Create a compelling and inspiring vision A clear vision provides direction and sets priorities for all employees to follow Effective leaders create a vision with the companys mission values and goals as a foundation that then shapes the business to succeed in current and future marketplaces However the company must be flexible in todays environment not only to survive but to succeed We believe that Hylant is a smart organization in that we dont just adapt to the changes in technology people and the world we embrace and lead these changes Building consensus around vision and common goals We have found that although leadership styles differ good leaders have a way of getting people they are leading to accomplish more than they otherwise would We have found that our most effective leaders do this by building consensus through active listening making sure they really understand the other persons point of view which then builds trust and collaboration Communicating and coaching employees You cant overstate how important it is for our leaders to be great communicators Effective communication to all stakeholders including employees the community and all business partners to inspire and motivate is not just a job it is an ongoing journey that must always be front of mind Critical to this is understanding team dynamics and training and coaching people to improve individual and team performance www bdo com Leaders at BDO embrace exceptional client service which begins with exceptional people committed to exceptional endeavors We believe that leadership at its core isnt about clients won or dollars accounted for Its about helping people Its about creating a better culture for our employees in and out of the office Its about giving back to our communities and doing our part to preserve the environment Leadership means encouraging innovation Leaders at BDO are not just thinking one step ahead for clients and our business but are putting those ideas into motion It means having a remedy in place if a situation arises and a team of the best and brightest professionals available whenever needed It means staying on top of emerging trends and increasing demands through continued education and research so that we can develop new products and offer solutions that meet our clients needs At BDO smart business and smart leadership is tactical thinking with a thoughtful approach www hylant com

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